Swatch launched a new range of watches using a new bioceramic material in April this year. Most fans of Swatch watches choose the brand because of style and looks over substance, and the environmental-conscious among them will have another reason to support the brand.
Have we not seen brands like Nike using recycled material for their store fixtures and shoes? KFC and Starbucks are no longer using plastic straws. Most brands are switching to bio-degradable paper packaging material for their products. The emphasis on green, environmentally friendly, recyclable and sustainable material is real and is the right way forward.
| Pros | Cons |
|
|
Meaning of BioCeramic[tie_index]Meaning of BioCeramic[/tie_index]
The word BioCeramic comprises two parts, namely the “Bio” and the “Ceramic”. Based on several sources, the secret formula is as follows:
- Bio:
About 33.3% or one-third is bio-sourced material made from oil extracted from Castor Plant seeds. It is also known as “castor bean oil”.
- Ceramic:
About 66.6% or two-third is made from zirconium dioxide (zirconia), which is naturally occurring and can also be synthesized from zirconium minerals. Zirconia is also used in the production of hard ceramics such as dentures and crowns for dentistry, ceramic knives, and also as a coating.
In fact, Swatch is not the first to use this material for watches. Other brands like Omega have been using zirconia ceramic cases, bezels, pushers and clasp since 2015. Around the same time, the first Apple Watch also has zirconia at the back of the watch, albeit for a different purpose. Nevertheless, zirconia is ideal because of its wear and scratch resistance.
The ratio of the oil and ceramic is the easy part, but the process for making BioCeramic material remains unknown. As a chemical engineer, I am suspecting that the oil is used as a binder during the solidification of the zirconia powder, which is quite a good guess based on this article on how to make bioceramics.
Can bioceramic material be recycled? Even if this can be done, we opine Swatch should indicate this on their website as being green should mean the material to be recyclable if not biodegradable.
Some users claimed that the material gets discoloured, so there may be a need to introduce UV-resistant additives into the mix in future designs. We do not foresee this as a major issue.
Design Review[tie_index]Design Review[/tie_index]
There are plenty of designs to choose from, which is the primary strength of Swatch.
There are absolutely no complaints about the styles available and buyers are spoilt for choices, although we prefer some themed designs such as Mario Brothers, or Marvel.
There is however one issue where most users brought up which is the exposed battery at the back of the watch. This is the first time we see a watch design with an exposed battery in contact with the wearers’ wrist. By the looks of the engraving, it appears that the design intent is to allow users to change the batteries easily by themselves.
How often do we expect to change the battery? Maybe once a year, but you have to wear this every day.
One interesting point to know is that even though the battery is exposed, the watch is rated waterproof for 100 feet. Could sweat, water and dust affect the battery contact? Only time will tell.
The other reason for the exposed battery design could be to reduce the size of the watch casing. If there is a cover for the battery, the thickness would be bloated another 1 to 2mm.
Review Summary[tie_index]Review Summary[/tie_index]
The main reason to buy the Swatch watches is the style and looks, while the bioceramic material help to ease the mind of those who are environmentally conscious. Some may consider the watch pricey for just telling time as it lacks the functions of modern smartwatches.
